Oct 6, 2001

Box Score?|? Photo Gallery

By SCOTT SONNER
Associated Press Writer

RENO, Nev. - Freshman Dominique Dorsey ran for 180 yards and a touchdown as UNLV beat Nevada, Reno 27-12 on Saturday for its first victory in Reno in 22 years.

Dillon Pieffer added field goals of 27 and 41 yards and Kevin Thomas had two interceptions for UNLV (1-4). It was the first time Rebels coach John Robinson had started any season 0-4 in 23 years of coaching in college and the NFL.

Freshman Chance Kretschmer rushed for 163 yards for UNR (1-3), which had beaten UNLV in 10 out of the last 12 meetings and hadn't lost to the Rebels at Reno since 1979.

UNR took a 6-0 lead when freshman Damon Fine tied a school record with a 58-yard field goal to end the first half.

But the Wolf Pack suffered a rare double personal foul for a 30-yard penalty at a key point deep in Rebels territory in the third quarter and struggled after that.

Dorsey, California's career high school rushing leader, set up UNLV's first touchdown with a 56-yard scamper in the third quarter, then scored on a 9-yard run early in the fourth quarter to put UNLV ahead 17-6.

UNR's backup quarterback Zach Threadgill completed 6 of 7 passes on an ensuing 73-yard scoring drive, capped by Kretschmer's 9-yard TD to make it 17-12 with 7:23 left in the game.

But Threadgill was sacked by linebacker Shanga Wilson on a failed 2-point conversion attempt.

Pieffer added his final field goal from 41 yards with 3:26 remaining and Kevin Thomas returned an interception 34 yards to UNR's 3, where UNLV quarterback Jason Thomas ran around the right side to score with 8 seconds left.

With UNLV down 6-0 in the third quarter, Dorsey bounced outside and gained 56 yards down the right sideline to set up Joe Haro's 4-yard touchdown run.

Kevin Thomas intercepted David Neill's pass on the next series, returning the ball 25 yards to UNR's 41 to set up a 27-yard field goal by Pieffer and extend the lead to 10-6.

UNR was leading 6-0 and threatening to score again in the third quarter when the Wolf Pack were hit with a double personal foul for late contact after Neill passed 13 yards to Jermaine Brown to UNLV's 13 yard line.

The penalties against Mo Jones and Kika Kaululaau backed the Wolf Pack up 30 yards and Fine missed a 54-yard field goal attempt at 9:56.

UNR safety Ronnie Hardiman intercepted on the first play of the game when Jason Thomas' pass bounced off Troy Mason at UNLV's 25. Fine made a 25-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead less than 3 minutes into the game.

Neill missed on his first 10 pass attempts, but scrambled for gains of 16, 13 and 20 yards on the last series before the half to set up Fine's long field goal, the longest since Tony Zendejas made a 58-yarder against Boise State in 1983.